Methods and systems for automated pharmaceutical dispensing

ABSTRACT

An automated dispensing device for a pharmaceutical order filling system includes an order processing device to receive a pharmaceutical order. The order processing device includes a cell for containing an available quantity of a pharmaceutical of the pharmaceutical order, and an insert received in the cell. The insert has a dispensing tube, and is adapted to receive the available quantity of the pharmaceutical and to dispense a measured quantity of the pharmaceutical through the dispensing tube. The cell includes a funnel having a weighted gate adapted to receive the dispensing tube of the insert.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/610,123 filed on May 31, 2017; said applicationSer. No. 15/610,123 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/807,596 filed on Jul. 23, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,697,335 on Jul. 4, 2017; said applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present application relates generally to the technical field ofautomated filling centers. In a specific example, the presentapplication may relate to a high volume fulfillment center, e.g., a highvolume pharmacy and to systems and devices used in filling prescriptionsand prescription orders at a high volume pharmacy.

BACKGROUND

A high-volume pharmacy may process and fill a large number ofprescriptions and prescription orders. Automated systems may be used bya high volume pharmacy to process and fulfill prescriptions.

Frequently, more than one prescription drug is required to complete aprescription order. Portions of the prescription order may be fulfilledin different areas of the high-volume pharmacy. After fulfillment, thefulfilled prescriptions may be gathered into a complete prescriptionorder for shipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example automated dispensing device thatmay be deployed within the system of FIG. 1, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top, perspective view of a pallet that may be deployedwithin the system of FIG. 1, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an automated dispensing subsystem thatmay be deployed within the automated dispensing device of FIG. 2,according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the automated dispensing subsystem of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side, cross-sectional view of the automated dispensingsubsystem of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a funnel that may be deployed in afilling cabinet of an automated dispensing subsystem, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an interior view of a cell that may be deployed in a fillingcabinet of an automated dispensing subsystem, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view of an insert that may be deployed in a filling cabinetof an automated dispensing subsystem, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a buffer tube that may be deployed within theautomated dispensing subsystem of FIG. 4, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a view of a portion of the buffer tube of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 is a top view of a pallet assembly of the automated dispensingsubsystem of FIG. 4, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a pallet assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a control subsystem that may be deployed withinthe automated dispensing device of FIG. 2, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 15 is an example process flow illustrating a method of configuringa pallet, according to an example embodiment; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a machine in the example form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions for causing themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed hereinmay be executed or stored.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example systems and methods for automated pharmaceutical dispensing aredescribed. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of example embodiments. It will be evident, however, toone of ordinary skill in the art that these embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details.

Generally, a prescription order is generated for a high volume pharmacy.The prescription order may include more than one prescription drug forfulfillment. Each prescription drug in a prescription order is an ordercomponent of the prescription order. Generally, the order components arepill bottles or other containers and packaging having a measuredquantity of a prescription drug therein. These containers may be filledby a mostly manual process, through a semiautomatic process, or a morefully automated process. Various factors may affect the availability offilling drugs through these processes in a pharmacy. A more fullyautomated process may be employed in a mail order pharmacy to fillcontainers with most frequently used drugs.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system 100, according to anexample embodiment. While the system 100 is generally described as beingdeployed in a high volume pharmacy (e.g., a mail order pharmacy, adirect delivery pharmacy, an automated pharmacy, and the like), thesystem 100 may otherwise be deployed. The system 100 may include anorder processing device 102 in communication with a benefit managerdevice 106 over a network 104. In an example embodiment, the orderprocessing device 102 may implement functions described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/874,107, which is hereby incorporated byreference, to move a patient to a high volume pharmacy. Additionaldevices which may be in communication with the benefit manager device106 and/or the order processing device 102 over network 104 include:database(s) 108 which may store one or more than one of order data 110,member data 112, claims data 114, drug data 116, prescription data 118,and plan sponsor data 120; pallet sizing and pucking device(s) 122;loading device(s) 124; inspect device(s) 126; unit of use device(s) 128;automated dispensing device(s) 130; manual fulfillment device(s) 132;review device(s) 134; imaging device(s) 136; cap device(s) 138;accumulation device(s) 140; literature device(s) 141; packing device(s)142; and unit of use packing device(s) 144. The system 100 may alsoinclude additional devices, which may communicate with each other overnetwork 104 or directly.

The order processing device 102 may receive information aboutprescriptions being filled at a pharmacy in which the order processingdevice 102 is deployed. In general, the order processing device 102 is adevice located within or otherwise associated with a pharmacy locationto enable fulfillment of a prescription by dispensing prescriptiondrugs. In some embodiments, the order processing device 102 may be adevice separate from a pharmacy that enables communication with otherdevices located within a pharmacy. For example, the order processingdevice 102 may be in communication with another order processing device102 and/or other devices 122-144 located with a pharmacy. In someembodiments, an external pharmacy order processing device 102 may havelimited functionality (e.g., as operated by a patient requestingfulfillment of a prescription drug) when an internal pharmacy orderprocessing device 102 may have greater functionality (e.g., as operatedby a pharmacy).

The order processing device 102 may track a prescription order as it isfulfilled. A prescription order may include one or more than oneprescription to be filled by the pharmacy. The order processing device102 may make pharmacy routing decisions and/or order consolidationdecisions for a prescription order. The pharmacy routing decisionsinclude what device or devices in the pharmacy are responsible forfilling at least a portion of the prescription order, where the orderconsolidation decisions include whether portions of a prescription orderor multiple prescription orders should be shipped together for a patientor a patient family. The order processing device 102 may operate on itsown or in combination with the benefit manager device 106. The orderprocessing device 102 may track and/or schedule the literature or otherpaperwork associated with each order or multiple prescription ordersthat are being shipped together.

Examples of the devices 102, 106 include a set-top box (STB), a receivercard, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a displaydevice, a portable gaming unit, a tablet, and a computing system;however other devices may also be used. For example the devices 102, 106may include a mobile electronic device, such an IPHONE or IPAD device byApple, Inc. mobile electronic devices powered by ANDROID by Google, Inc.and a BLACKBERRY device by Blackberry Limited. The devices 102, 106 mayalso include other computing devices, such as desktop computing devices,notebook computing devices, netbook computing devices, gaming devices,and the like. The devices 102, 106 may include a processor, a memory tostore data and instructions, and communication functionality. Othertypes of electronic devices that can use rules and instructions toexecute various functions may also be used.

Examples of the network 104 include Mobile Communications (GSM) network,a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP), an Internet Protocol (IP) network, aWireless Application Protocol (WAP) network, a WiFi network, or an IEEE802.11 standards network, as well as various combinations thereof. Thenetwork 104 may include optical communications. The network 104 may be alocal area network or a global communication network, such as theInternet. Other conventional and/or later developed wired and wirelessnetworks may also be used. In some embodiments, the network 104 mayinclude a prescribing network such as the electronic prescribing networkoperated by Surescripts of Arlington, Va.

The benefit manager device 106 is a device operated by an entity atleast partially responsible for creation and/or management of thepharmacy or drug benefit. While this benefit manager operating thebenefit manager device 106 is typically a pharmacy benefit manager(PBM), other entities may operate the benefit manager device 106 eitheron behalf of themselves, the PBM, or another entity. For example, thebenefit manager may be operated by a health plan, a retail pharmacychain, a drug wholesaler, a data analytics or other type ofsoftware-related company, or the like. In some embodiments, a PBM thatprovides the pharmacy benefit may also provide one or more than oneadditional benefits including a medical or health benefit, a dentalbenefit, a vision benefit, a wellness benefit, a radiology benefit, apet care benefit, an insurance benefit, a long term care benefit, anursing home benefit, and the like. The PBM may, in addition to its PBMoperations, operate one or more than one pharmacy. The pharmacies may beretail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, or otherwise.

Some of the operations of the PBM that operates the benefit managerdevice 106 may include the following. A member (or a person on behalf ofthe member) of a pharmacy benefit plan administered by or through thePBM attempts to obtain a prescription drug at a retail pharmacy locationwhere the member can obtain drugs in a physical store from a pharmacistor pharmacist technician, or in some instances through mail order drugdelivery from a mail order pharmacy location. The member may also obtaina prescription drug directly or indirectly through the use of a machine,such as a kiosk, vending unit, mobile electronic device, or a differenttype of mechanical, electrical, electronic communication device and/orcomputing device.

The member may have a co-pay for the prescription drug that reflects anamount of money that the member is responsible to pay the pharmacy forthe prescription drug. The money paid by the member to the pharmacy maycome from the personal funds of the member, a health savings account(HSA) of the member or the member's family, a health reimbursementarrangement (HRA) of the member or the member's family, a flexiblespending accounts (FSA) of the member or the member's family, or thelike. An employer of the member may directly or indirectly fund orreimburse the member or an account of the member for the co-pay.

The amount of the co-pay paid by the member may vary by the benefit planof a plan sponsor or client with the PBM. The member's co-pay may bebased on a flat co-pay (e.g., $10), coinsurance (e.g., 10%), and/or adeductible (e.g., for first $500 of annual prescription drug spend) forcertain prescription drugs, certain types and/or classes of prescriptiondrugs, and/or all prescription drugs.

In certain instances, the member may not pay the co-pay or may only payfor a portion of a co-pay for a prescription drug. For example, if theusual and customary cost for a generic version of a prescription drug is$4, and the member's flat co-pay is $20 for the prescription drug, themember may only pay $4 to receive the prescription drug. In anotherexample involving a worker's compensation claim, no co-pay may be due bythe member for the prescription drug. The co-pay may also vary based onthe delivery channel used to receive the prescription drug. For example,the co-pay for receiving prescription drug from a mail order pharmacylocation may be less than the co-pay for receiving prescription drugfrom a retail pharmacy location.

In conjunction with receiving the co-pay (if any) from the member anddispensing the prescription drug to the member, the pharmacy submits aclaim to the PBM for the prescription drug. The PBM may perform certainadjudication operations including verifying the eligibility of themember, reviewing an applicable formulary of the member to determineappropriate co-pay, coinsurance, and deductible for the prescriptiondrug, and performing a drug utilization review (DUR) on the member. ThePBM then provides a response to the pharmacy following performance of atleast some of the aforementioned operations. As part of theadjudication, the plan sponsor (or the PBM on behalf of the plansponsor) ultimately reimburses the pharmacy for filling the prescriptiondrug when the prescription drug was successfully adjudicated. Theaforementioned adjudication operations generally occur before the co-payis received and the prescription drug dispensed. However, the operationsmay occur simultaneously, substantially simultaneously, or in adifferent order. In addition, more or less adjudication operations maybe performed as at least part of the adjudication process.

The amount of reimbursement paid to the pharmacy by a plan sponsorand/or money paid by the member may be based at least in part on thetype of pharmacy network in which the pharmacy is included. Otherfactors may be used to determine the amount in addition to the type ofpharmacy network. For example, if the member pays the pharmacy for theprescription without using the prescription drug benefit provided by thebenefit manager, the amount of money paid by the member may be higherand the amount of money received by the pharmacy for dispensing theprescription drug and for the prescription drug itself may be higher.Some or all of the foregoing operations may be performed by executinginstructions on the benefit manager device 106 and/or an additionaldevice.

In some embodiments, at least some of the functionality of the orderprocessing device 102 may be included in the benefit manager device 106.The order processing device 102 may be in a client-server relationshipwith the benefit manager device 106, a peer-to-peer relationship withthe benefit manager device 106, or in a different type of relationshipwith the benefit manager device 106.

The order processing device 102 and/or the benefit manager device 106may be in communication directly (e.g., through local storage orpeer-to-peer connection(s)) and/or through the network 104 (e.g., in acloud configuration or software-as-a-service) with a database 108 (e.g.,as may be retained in memory or otherwise). The database 108 may bedeployed on the order processing device 102, the benefit manager device106, on another device of the system 100, or otherwise. The database 108may store order data 110, member data 112, claims data 114, drug data116, prescription data 118, and/or plan sponsor data 120. Other data maybe stored in the database 108.

The order data 110 may include data related to the order ofprescriptions including the type (e.g., drug name and strength) andquantity of each prescription in a prescription order. The order data110 may also include data used for completion of the prescription, suchas prescription materials and/or the type and/or size of container inwhich the drug is or is preferably dispensed. In general, prescriptionmaterials are a type of order materials that include an electronic copyof information regarding the prescription drug for inclusion with orotherwise in conjunction with the fulfilled prescription. Theprescription materials may include electronic information regarding druginteraction warnings, recommended usage, possible side effects,expiration date, date of prescribing, or the like. The order data 110may be used by a high volume fulfillment center to fulfill a pharmacyorder. In some embodiments, the order data 110 includes verificationinformation associated with fulfillment of the prescription in thepharmacy. For example, the order data 110 may include videos and/orimages taken of (i) the prescription drug prior to dispensing, duringdispensing, and/or after dispensing, (ii) the prescription container(e.g., a prescription bottle and sealing lid) used to contain theprescription drug prior to dispensing, during dispensing, and/or afterdispensing, (iii) the packaging and/or packaging materials used to shipor otherwise deliver the prescription drug prior to dispensing, duringdispensing, and/or after dispensing, and/or (iv) the fulfillment processwithin the pharmacy. Other type of verification information such as barcode data read from pallets used to transport prescriptions within thepharmacy may also be stored as order data 110.

The member data 112 includes information regarding the membersassociated with the benefit manager. The information stored as memberdata 112 may include personal information, personal health information,protected health information, and the like. Examples of the member data112 include name, address, telephone number, e-mail address,prescription drug history, and the like. The member data 112 may includea plan sponsor identifier that identifies the plan sponsor associatedwith the member and/or a member identifier that identifies the member tothe plan sponsor. The member data 112 may include a member identifierthat identifies the plan sponsor associated with the patient and/or apatient identifier that identifies the patient to the plan sponsor. Themember data 112 may also include, by way of example, dispensationpreferences such as type of label, type of cap, message preferences,language preferences, or the like. The member data 112 may be accessedby various devices in the pharmacy, e.g., the high volume fulfillmentcenter, to obtain information utilized for fulfillment and shipping ofprescription orders. In some embodiments, an external order processingdevice 102 operated by or on behalf of a member may have access to atleast a portion of the member data 112 for review, verification, orother purposes.

In some embodiments, the member data 112 may include information forpersons who are patients of the pharmacy but are not members in abenefit plan being provided by the benefit manager. For example, thesepatients may obtain drug directly from the pharmacy, through a privatelabel service offered by the pharmacy, the high volume fulfillmentcenter, or otherwise. In general, the use of the terms member andpatient may be used interchangeably herein.

The claims data 114 includes information regarding pharmacy claimsadjudicated by the PBM under a drug benefit program provided by the PBMfor one, or more than one, plan sponsors. In general, the claims data114 includes an identification of the client that sponsors the drugbenefit program under which the claim is made, and/or the member thatpurchased the prescription drug giving rise to the claim, theprescription drug that was filled by the pharmacy (e.g., the nationaldrug code number), the dispensing date, generic indicator, GPI number,medication class, the cost of the prescription drug provided under thedrug benefit program, the copay/coinsurance amount, rebate information,and/or member eligibility. Additional information may be included. Insome embodiments, other types of claims beyond prescription drug claimsmay be stored in the claims data 114. For example, medical claims,dental claims, wellness claims, or other type of health care-relatedclaims for members may be stored as a portion of the claims data 114.

In some embodiments, the claims data 114 includes claims that identifythe members with whom the claims are associated. In some embodiments,the claims data 114 includes claims that have been de-identified (e.g.,associated with a unique identifier but not with a particular,identifiable member).

The drug data 116 may include drug name (e.g., technical name and/orcommon name), other names by which the drug is known by, activeingredients, an image of the drug (e.g., in pill form), and the like.The drug data 116 may include information associated with a singlemedication or multiple medications.

The prescription data 118 may include information regardingprescriptions that may be issued by prescribers on behalf of patients,who may be members of the drug benefit plan, for example to be filled bya pharmacy. Examples of the prescription data 118 include patient names,medication or treatment (such as lab tests), dosing information, and thelike. The prescriptions may be electronic prescriptions, paperprescriptions that have been scanned, or otherwise. In some embodiments,the dosing information reflects a frequency of use (e.g., once a day,twice a day, before each meal, etc.) and a duration of use (e.g., a fewdays, a week, a few weeks, a month, etc.).

In some embodiments, the order data 110 may be linked to associatedmember data, claims data 114, drug data 116, and/or prescription data118.

The plan sponsor data 120 includes information regarding the plansponsors of the benefit manager. Examples of the plan sponsor data 120include company name, company address, contact name, contact telephonenumber, contact e-mail address, and the like.

The order processing device 102 may direct at least some of theoperations of the devices 122-144, recited above. In some embodiments,operations performed by one of these devices 122-144 may be performedsequentially, or in parallel with the operations of another device asmay be coordinated by the order processing device 102. In someembodiments, the order processing device 102 tracks a prescription withthe pharmacy based on operations performed by one or more of the devices122-144.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may transport prescription drugcontainers (e.g., between one or more than one of the devices 122-144 inthe high volume fulfillment center) by use of pallets. The pallet sizingand pucking device 122 may configure pucks in a pallet. A pallet may bea transport structure for a number of prescription containers, and mayinclude a number of cavities. A puck may be placed in one or more thanone of the cavities in a pallet by the pallet sizing and pucking device122. A puck may include a receptacle sized and shaped to receive aprescription container. Such containers may be supported by the pucksduring carriage in the pallet and during movement through thefulfillment process. Different pucks may have differently sized andshaped receptacles to accommodate containers of differing sizes, as maybe appropriate for different prescriptions. Pucks allow thestandardization of equipment engaging differently sized drug containerssuch that some automated equipment can move the drug container bygripping the puck that is supporting the container and allow the use ofa standardized pallet that holds a plurality of pucks have a same outerdimension while having differently sized receptacles therein to holddifferently sized drug containers. The pucks may also operate to ensurethat a drug container is centered in a location on the pallet.

The arrangement of pucks in a pallet may be determined by the orderprocessing device 102 based on prescriptions which the order processingdevice 102 decides to launch. In general, prescription orders in theorder database 110 reside in one or more than one queues, and aregenerally launched in a first-in-first-out order. However, the orderprocessing device 102 may use logic and a variety of factors todetermine when and how prescriptions are to be launched. For example,some non-limiting factors which may alter the first-in-first-out orderof launching prescriptions in a pharmacy include the age of the order,whether the order required an outreach to a physician or some otherintervention, whether there are any performance guarantees with plansponsors or members, the available inventory of a given pharmaceuticalin view of existing prescriptions already launched which will requirethat pharmaceutical, the zip code to which the order will be shipped,the workload and volume of various parts of the pharmacy, whether validpaperwork for the order has been received, and/or similar orders for thesame pharmaceutical that are already to be launched. The logic may beimplemented directly in the pallet sizing and pucking device 122, in theorder processing device 102, in both devices 102, 122, or otherwise.Once a prescription is set to be launched, a puck suitable for theappropriate size of container for that prescription may be positioned ina pallet by a robotic arm or pickers. The pallet sizing and puckingdevice 122 may launch a pallet once pucks have been configured in thepallet. The loading device 124 may load prescription containers into thepucks on a pallet by a robotic arm, pick and place mechanism, or thelike. In one embodiment, the loading device 108 has robotic arms orpickers to grasp a prescription container and move it to and from apallet. The loading device 124 may also print a label which isappropriate for a container that is to be loaded onto the pallet, andapply the label to the container. The pallet may be located on aconveyor assembly during these operations. In an example embodiment, thedrug containers may be positioned in the pucks by the loading device 124prior to the pucks being placed in the pallet. The inspect device 126may verify that containers in a pallet are correctly labeled and in thecorrect spot on the pallet. The inspect device 126 may scan the label onone or more than one container on the pallet. Labels of containers maybe scanned or imaged in full or in part by the inspect device 126. Suchimaging may occur after the container has been lifted out of its puck bya robotic arm, picker, or the like, or may be otherwise scanned orimaged while retained in the puck. In some embodiments, images and/orvideo captured by the inspect device 126 may be stored in the database108 as order data 110.

The unit of use device 128 may temporarily store, monitor, label and/ordispense unit of use products. In general, unit of use products areprescription drug products that may be delivered to a patient or memberwithout being repackaged at the pharmacy. These products may includepills in container, pills in a blister pack, inhalers, and the like.Pills to be placed in a container may include, and not be limited to,capsules, tablets, caplets, lozenges, and other solid medium with apharmaceutical component that may be ingested by a person or othermammal. Prescription drug products dispensed by the unit of use device128 may be packaged individually or collectively for shipping, or may beshipped in combination with other prescription drugs dispensed by otherdevices in the high volume fulfillment center.

The automated dispensing device 130 may include one or more than onedevices that dispense prescription drugs or pharmaceuticals intoprescription containers in accordance with one or multiple prescriptionorders. In general, the automated dispensing device 130 may includemechanical and electronic components with, in some embodiments, softwareand/or logic to facilitate pharmaceutical dispensing that wouldotherwise be performed in a manual fashion by a pharmacist and/orpharmacist technician. For example, the automated dispensing device 130may include high volume fillers that fill a number of prescription drugtypes at a rapid rate and blister pack machines that dispense and packdrugs into a blister pack or other pre-packaged form of pills.Prescription drugs dispensed by the automated dispensing devices 130 maybe packaged individually or collectively for shipping, or may be shippedin combination with other prescription drugs dispenses by other devicesin the high volume fulfillment center.

The automated dispensing device 130 may be used, for example, todispense commonly prescribed dispense drugs in an automatic orsemiautomatic method into containers. Drugs may be dispensed inconnection with filling one or more than one prescriptions (or portionsof prescriptions). Drugs dispensed by the automated dispensing device130 may be tablets, pills, capsules, caplets, or other types of drugssuitable for dispensing by a the automated dispensing device 130.

The manual fulfillment device 132 may provide for manual fulfillment ofprescriptions. For example, the manual fulfillment device 132 mayreceive or obtain a container and enable fulfillment of the container bya pharmacist or pharmacy technician. In some embodiments, the manualfulfillment device 132 provides the filled container to another devicein the system 100. In an example embodiment, the container may be joinedwith other containers in a prescription order for a patient or member,e.g., on a pallet or at the accumulation device 140. In general, amanual fulfillment may include operations at least partially performedby a pharmacist or pharmacy technician. For example, a person mayretrieve a supply of the prescribed drug, may make an observation, maycount out a prescribed quantity of drugs and place them into aprescription container, or the like. Some portions of the manualfulfillment process may be automated by use of a machine. For example,counting of capsules, tablets, or pills may be at least partiallyautomated (e.g., through use of a pill counter). Prescription drugsdispensed by the manual fulfillment device 132 may be packagedindividually or collectively for shipping, or may be shipped incombination with other prescription drugs dispenses by other devices inthe high volume fulfillment center.

The review device 134 may process prescription containers to be reviewedby a pharmacist for proper pill count, exception handling, prescriptionverification, and the like. Fulfilled prescriptions may be manuallyreviewed and/or verified by a pharmacist, as may be required by state orlocal law. A pharmacist or other licensed pharmacy person who maydispense certain drugs in compliance with local and/or other laws mayoperate the review device 134 and visually inspect a prescriptioncontainer that has been filled with a prescription drug. The pharmacistmay review, verify, and/or evaluate drug quantity, drug strength, and/ordrug interaction concerns, or otherwise perform pharmacist services. Thepharmacist may also handle containers which have been flagged as anexception, such as containers with unreadable labels, containers forwhich the associated prescription order has been cancelled, containerswith defects, and the like. In an example embodiment, the manual reviewcan be performed at the manual station.

The imaging device 136 may image containers after they have been filledwith pharmaceuticals. The imaging device 136 may measure the fill heightof the pharmaceuticals in the container based on the obtained image todetermine if the container is filled to the correct height given thetype of pharmaceutical and the number of pills in the prescription.Images of the pills in the container may also be obtained to detect thesize of the pills themselves and markings thereon. The images may betransmitted to the order processing device 102, and/or stored in thedatabase 110 as part of the order data 110.

The cap device 138 may be used to cap or otherwise seal a prescriptioncontainer. In some embodiments, the cap device 138 may secure aprescription container with a type of cap in accordance with a patientpreference (e.g., a preference regarding child resistance), a plansponsor preference, a prescriber preference, or the like. The cap device138 may also etch a message into the cap or otherwise associate amessage into the cap, although this process may be performed by asubsequent device in the high volume fulfillment center. Etching may beperformed according to the teachings in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/313,042, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The accumulationdevice 140 accumulates various containers of prescription drugs in aprescription order. The accumulation device 140 may accumulateprescription containers from various devices or areas of the pharmacy.For example, the accumulation device 140 may accumulate prescriptioncontainers from the unit of use device 128, the automated dispensingdevice 130, the manual fulfillment device 132, and the review device134, at the high volume fulfillment center. The accumulation device 140may be used to group the prescription containers prior to shipment tothe member or otherwise. In some embodiments, the literature device 141folds or otherwise prepares the literature for inclusion with aprescription drug order (e.g., in a shipping container). In someembodiments, the literature device 141 that prints the literature may beseparate from the literature device that prepares the literature forinclusion with a prescription order.

The packing device 142 packages a prescription order in preparation forshipping the order. The packing device 142 may box, bag, or otherwisepackage the fulfilled prescription order for delivery. The packingdevice 142 may further place inserts, e.g., literature or other papersinto the packaging received from the literature device 141 or otherwise.For example, bulk prescription orders may be shipped in a box, whileother prescription orders may be shipped in a bag which may be a wrapseal bag. The packing device 142 may label the box or bag with theaddress and a recipient's name. The label may be printed and affixed tothe bag or box, be printed directly onto the bag or box, or otherwiseassociated with the bag or box. The packing device 142 may sort the boxor bag for mailing in an efficient manner (e.g., sort by deliveryaddress). The packing device 142 may include ice or temperaturesensitive elements for prescriptions which are to be kept within atemperature range during shipping in order to retain efficacy orotherwise. The ultimate package may then be shipped through postal mail,through a mail order delivery service that ships via group and/or air(e.g., UPS, FEDEX, or DHL), through delivery service, through a localdelivery service (e.g., a courier service), through a locker box at ashipping site (e.g., an AMAZON locker or a post office box), orotherwise.

The unit of use packing device 144 packages a unit of use prescriptionorder in preparation for shipping the order. The unit of use packingdevice 144 may include manual scanning of containers to be bagged forshipping to verify each container in the order. In an exampleembodiment, the manual scanning may be performed at a manual station.

While the system 100 in FIG. 1 is shown to include single devices 102,106, 122-144 multiple devices may be used. The devices 102, 106, 122-144may be the same type or model of device or may be different device typesor models. When multiple devices are present, the multiple devices maybe of the same device type or models or may be a different device typeor model. The types of devices 102, 106, 122-144 shown in FIG. 1 areexample devices. In other configurations of the system 100, lesser,additional, or different types of devices may be included.

Moreover, the system 100 shows a single network 104; however, multiplenetworks can be used. The multiple networks may communicate in serieswith each other to link the devices 102, 106, 122-144 or in parallel tolink the devices 102, 106, 122-144. Multiple devices may shareprocessing and/or memory resources. The devices 102, 106, 122-144 may belocated in the same area or in different locations. For example, thedevices 102, 106, 122-144 may be located in a building or set ofadjoining buildings. The devices 102, 106, 122-144 may be interconnected(e.g. by conveyors), networked, and/or otherwise in contact with oneanother or integrated with one another e.g., at the high volumefulfillment center. In addition, the functionality of a device may besplit among a number of discrete devices and/or combined with otherdevices.

The system 100 may include a single database, or multiple databases,maintained by respective devices operated by or on behalf one or anumber of different persons and/or organizations. The communication mayoccur directly (e.g., through local storage) and/or through the network104 (e.g., in a cloud configuration or software-as-a-service) with adevice that stores a respective database.

FIG. 2 illustrates an automated dispensing device 130, according to anexample embodiment. The automated dispensing device 130 may be deployedin the system 100 of FIG. 1, or may otherwise be used. The automateddispensing device 130 may include a control subsystem 202 and anautomated dispensing subsystem 204. The control subsystem 202 mayinclude one or more module and enables the automated dispensing device130 to control the automated dispensing subsystem 204, while theautomated dispensing subsystem 204 may include one or more device andenables the automated dispensing device 130 with dispensing operations(e.g., dispensing a measured quantity pharmaceuticals into a container).

An example deployment of the automated dispensing device 130 is withinthe system 100. In such a deployment, the system 100 includes one ormore than one conveyor or other devices to facilitate transportingcontainers or pallets of containers through mechanical devices withinthe system 100, such as devices to label, fill, cap, and checkcontainers. The automated dispensing device 130 may be otherwisedeployed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a pallet 302, according to an example embodiment. Thepallet 302 may be used in the system 100 of FIG. 1 (e.g., by theautomated dispensing device 130), or may be otherwise used.

The pallet 302 may be a transport structure for a number of prescriptioncontainers 304, and may include a number of cavities 306. While thepallet 302 is shown to include 25 cavities in a five by five cavityrow/column configuration, other numbers of categories and/or cavityconfigurations of varying shapes, size, and/or dimensions may be used.In some embodiments the pallet may be substantially square and, in suchan embodiment, have a width and length of between approximately 18inches and 22 inches (e.g., approximately 18 inches, 19 inches, 20inches, 21 inches, or 22 inches). In some embodiments, the width and/orlength may be greater than approximately 22 inches or less thanapproximately 18 inches.

In an example embodiment, the cavities 306 are spaced on the pallet 302such that the center point of adjacent cavities 306 is betweenapproximately 3 inches and 4 inches (e.g., approximately 3 inches, 3.25inches, 3.5 inches, 3.75 inches or 4 inches). In another exampleembodiment, the distance between center points of adjacent cavities 306is more than approximately 4 inches. In yet another example embodiment,the center points of cavities 306 are less than approximately 3 inchesapart.

The pallet 302 may be made in whole or in part of metal, such asaluminum. Other suitable materials may be used for the pallet 302, suchas plastic. The pallet 302 may be rigid so that the cavities remain in aknown location that can be tracked while the pallet moves through thesystem 100. The pallet 302 may include bumpers.

In some embodiments, other carriers beyond the pallet 302 and/or nocarrier may be used to move containers or groups of containers throughthe system 100 or via the automated dispensing subsystem 204.

The pallet 302 may retain one or more than one containers 304. Acontainer 304 is generally cylindrical and may be of one or a variety ofsizes utilized by a pharmacy for fulfillment of a prescription. Forexample, a pharmacy may have two different sized containers or threedifferent sized containers. Any number of different sized containers maybe used with the pallet 302. While the container 304 is generallydenoted as being used with the pallet 302, the containers 304 mayotherwise be used in the system 100 or in a different system. Shapesbeyond cylindrical shapes may be used for the containers 304. Examplesof other shapes include regular prisms, elliptical cylinders, andcombinations thereof. The receptacle of a puck may be sized to receiveand support the outer shape of the container. The containers 304 may bedisposed in the pallet 302 such that they are close to one another butdo not touch.

The pallet 302 may include a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag308. The RFID tag 308 may be an active RFID tag, such as an active RFIDtag with a close reading range. In some embodiments, the RFID tag 308 isan active, narrowband, read/write RFID tag.

The RFID tag 308 of a particular pallet 302 may store data (or otherwisefacilitate the access of data, e.g., from the database 108) associatedwith the containers 304 that have been, are, and/or will be placedwithin the pallet 302, such as the order data 110, the member data 112,the claims data 114, the drug data 116, the prescription data 118,and/or the plan sponsor data 120 associated with such containers 304.Other data may be stored by and/or or associated with the RFID tag 314,such as the age of the pallet 302, the number of times the pallet 302has been used to transport containers 304 through the system 100, thenumber of errors associated with the pallet 302, and the like. The RFIDtag 314 may also store the position of individual containers on thepallet 302. In an example embodiment, the RFID tag 308 of the pallet302, while deployed within an automated dispensing subsystem 204, storesdata associated with one or more of the following data fields: (1)container identifiers, (2) identifier of the particular automateddispensing subsystem 204, (3) identifiers of the particular cells fromwhich a particular container will be filled (as described below), (4)container properties (e.g., the status of containers 304 on the pallet302, such as whether the containers 304 have passed an inspectionstation and have been identified as containers 304 to be filled in theparticular automated dispensing subsystem 204), and (5) the pallet routewithin the automated dispensing subsystem 204.

The pucks 310 may be used to modify the size of the cavities 306 toallow the pallet 302 to accommodate different sizes of the containers304.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate the automated dispensing subsystem 204, accordingto an example embodiment. The automated dispensing subsystem 204 may bedeployed within the automated dispensing device 130, or may otherwise bedeployed. The automated dispensing subsystem 204 enables dispensing of anumber of different types of pharmaceuticals in an automatic orsemiautomatic manner.

The automated dispensing subsystem 204 includes a filling cabinet 402, aprefill assembly 404, and a pallet assembly 406. The filling cabinet 402stores pharmaceuticals to be dispensed into containers via the prefillassembly 404 and dispenses measured quantities of pharmaceuticals intothe prefill assembly 404. The prefill assembly 404 stores the measuredquantities of pharmaceuticals and dispenses the measured quantities ofpharmaceuticals received from the filling cabinet 402 into containers304 on the pallet 302 while in the pallet assembly 406.

A pallet conveyor 412 may transport the pallets 302 through some or allof the devices within the system 100, such as the automated dispensingdevice 130. The pallet assembly 406 receives the pallets 302 via thepallet conveyor 412 and moves the pallets 302 within the pallet assembly406 such that pharmaceuticals dispensed by the automated dispensingsubsystem 204 are dispensed into the containers 304 on the pallet 302.

The pallet conveyor 412 may be a chain conveyor or a belt drivenconveyor, e.g., a belted Bosch TS2 belt-driven conveyors; other types ofconveyors may be used for the pallet conveyor 412, such as a chainconveyor. In some embodiments, the pallet conveyor 412 is a lowfriction, high speed conveyor.

Although pallets are generally described herein as employed to move agroup of containers through the system 100 or within the automateddispensing subsystem 204, trays or other types of carriers may beemployed to move a group of containers 304 through the system 100 orwithin the automated dispensing subsystem 204.

The filling cabinet 402 may be physically housed, located, positioned orinstalled above the prefill assembly 404 and the pallet assembly 406.For example, the filling cabinet 402 may be located on a first floor(e.g., in a building) and the prefill assembly 404 and the palletassembly 406 may be located on a second floor (e.g., in the samebuilding) below the filling cabinet 402. These components of theautomated dispensing subsystem 204 may be otherwise positioned, e.g., ina position to utilize gravity to move pharmaceuticals from the fillingcabinet 402 to the prefill assembly 404 and then to the containers on304 the pallet 302. For example, some portion of the filling cabinet 402may extend below the first floor.

The filling cabinet 402 may include multiple cells 414. The cells 414may each be adapted to hold a different pharmaceutical. The cells 414may be adapted to receive inserts 416. For example, the inserts 416 maybe slidably inserted into the cells 414. The inserts 416 may be adaptedto hold pharmaceuticals to be dispensed into the containers 304 via theautomated dispensing subsystem 204. The cells 414 may receivepharmaceuticals, retain such pharmaceuticals, and dispense measuredquantities of such pharmaceuticals into the prefill assembly 404. Theinsert 416 may be adapted to be removably received within the cell 414.For example, the insert 416 may pull out of the cell 414 like a draweror a fixable pouch. In some embodiments, the cells 414 and the inserts416 may be provided on opposite sides of the filling cabinet 402. Thus,the first and second sides of the filling cabinet 402 may be separatelyaccessible. The filling cabinet 402 may include fifty cells 414 perside, so in an embodiment in which cells 414 are provided on oppositesides of the filling cabinet 402, the filling cabinet 402 may include upto and including 100 cells. In other embodiments, fewer or more than 50cells may be included per side and/or fewer or more than 100 cells maybe included per filling cabinet 402. Each cell 414 may receive an insert416 filled (or to be filled) with a different pharmaceutical or multiplecells 414 may each receive an insert 416 filled (or to be filled) withthe same pharmaceutical. For example, more than one insert 416 may befilled with a commonly prescribed pharmaceutical.

The insert 416 may include a face plate 418 with a door 420. The door420 may be adapted to lock and to unlock to be opened. For example, thedoor 420 may be adapted to be locked unless and until it is unlocked.The door 420 may be adapted to unlock pursuant to a process thatmitigates risk of unauthorized access to the pharmaceuticals within theinsert 416 and/or to mitigate risks that unintended pharmaceuticals willbe added to the insert 416. In an example embodiment, the door 420 ofthe cell 414 will unlock when identifying information associated with apharmaceutical container is detected (e.g., by a pharmacist using ahand-held scanning device to read a bar code or other computer-readableelement on the pharmaceutical container) that matches identifyinginformation associated with the cell 414 (e.g., by a pharmacist using ahand-held scanning device to read a bar code or other computer-readableelement on the face plate 418 of the insert 416) and information aboutthe pharmacist who fills the cell 414 (e.g., by a pharmacist using ahand-held scanning device to read a bar code or other computer-readableelement on the pharmacist's badge). The inserts 416 may be otherwiseaccessed to receive pharmaceuticals to be held and dispensed.

The cell 414 may be adapted to receive a funnel 602. A first portion 606of the funnel 602 disposed within the cell 414 may be adapted to receivea dispensing tube 604 of the insert 416, through which pharmaceuticalsmay be dispensed from the insert 416 into the funnel 602. This may bethrough the large opening in the funnel 602. A second portion 608 of thefunnel 602 may exist outside of the cell 414 and be in communicationwith a tube 502 connected to a rear opening 610 of the funnel 602, e.g.,as illustrated in FIG. 6. The second portion 608 may be the stem of thefunnel 602, which acts as a discharge for the pharmaceuticals beingdispensed.

A frame portion 424 supports multiple tubes 502 connected to thedischarge of the funnels 602 of the filling cabinet 402. For purposes ofviewability, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate just two tubes 502. In general,however, the tubes 502 are included to enable the cells 414 to dispensedrugs. The tubes 502 may be static dissipative flex tubes and may begrounded to allow for static to flow to ground the tubes 502.

The prefill assembly 404 includes multiple buffer tubes 426. Each of thetubes 502 is connected to a buffer tube 426 of the prefill assembly 404.The buffer tube 426 may be removable to, for example, facilitatecleaning or replacement. The buffer tube 426 may be shaped as along-draw funnel or include a long-draw funnel. A long draw funnel mayfacilitate dispensing of pharmaceuticals while minimizing jams. In anexample embodiment, a long draw funnel may be greater than six inches inlength, greater than a foot in length, or greater than two feet inlength and decrease in diameter over at least a portion of its length.However, the long draw funnel will maintain a diameter than will allow apharmaceutical to pass therethrough.

The pharmaceuticals may be dispensed from the buffer tube 426 into acontainer 304 disposed on the pallet 302 when the container 304 is heldunder the buffer tube 426 within the pallet assembly 406.

FIG. 7 illustrates a funnel 602 that may be disposed within a cell 414.The first end 606 may include a funnel gate 702. The funnel 602 may bemade of plastic, metal, polymer, and/or other suitable materials. Thefunnel gate 702 may be open when the insert 416 is in the cell 414. Forexample, the dispensing tube 604 of the insert 416 may engage and openthe funnel gate 702 when the insert is inserted into the cell 414. Thefunnel gate 702 may be weighted or biased such that it will shut whenthe insert 416 is pull out or removed from the cell 414 of the fillingcabinet 402, for example to be cleaned or replaced. Thus, the funnelgate 702 may prevent pharmaceuticals from dropping through the funnel602 (for example, into the tube 502) when the insert 416 is pulled outor removed from the cell 414.

In an example embodiment, the funnel 602 may be between approximately 8inches and approximately 10 inches long, as measured from the top of thefunnel gate 702 to the rear opening 610 of the funnel 602. For example,the funnel 602 may be approximately 9, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6,9.7, 9.8, 9.9 or 10 inches long. The width of the discharge end of thefunnel 602 (which may be a diameter if the funnel 602 is substantiallycircular) may be between approximately 1 and approximately 2 inches. Inan example embodiment, the discharge end of the funnel 602 may have aninterior diameter of approximately 1.3 inches and an exterior diameterof approximately 1.5 inches.

The funnel 602 may be formed and/or placed within the cell 414 such thatthe connections between the dispensing tube 604 of the insert 416 andthe funnel 602 (e.g., when the dispensing tube 604 engages the funnelgate 702) and between the tube 502 and the discharge end of the funnel602 are tight. Such connections may be tight when any gap or spacebetween the connections is smaller than the smallest drug that may bedispensed through the funnel 602. For example, tolerances for any suchgap or space may be less than one millimeter.

FIG. 8 illustrates the inside 802 of the cell 414. The funnel 602 withthe funnel gate 702 is disposed at a back wall 804 of the inside 802 ofthe cell 414. The funnel gate 702 is in the closed position in FIG. 8.The cell 414 is adapted to receive the insert 416 slid into the cell 414along rails 806, 808. When inserted into the cell 414, the dispensingtube 604 of the insert 416 may engage and push open the funnel gate 702.

FIG. 9 illustrates an insert 416 according to an example embodiment. Achute 902 may be in communication with the door 420 on the face plate418 of the insert to receive pharmaceuticals, e.g., when the insert 416is filled by a pharmacist as described above. The chute 902 may emptyinto a rotating hopper 904 in communication with a vibratory bowl 906. Alevel sensor 908 may be adapted to receive information about thequantity of pharmaceuticals in the vibratory bowl 906 and/or the hopper904. Signals from the level sensor 908 may cause the hopper to spin torelease additional quantities of pharmaceuticals into the vibratory bowl906 and/or to stop spinning.

The insert 416 may employ vibratory technologies to facilitate a rapiddispensing stream of pharmaceuticals from the insert 416 into the funnel602. The insert 416 may be adapted to count pharmaceuticals as they exitthe vibratory bowl 906. Pharmaceuticals may be counted via a scannerarray through which the pharmaceuticals pass as they exit the vibratorybowl 906. Pharmaceuticals may be otherwise counted. In an exampleembodiment, the insert 416 is a counting cell canister manufactured byKirby Lester, LLC. Other devices may be used to perform the functions ofan insert 416.

Counted pharmaceuticals (for example, a number of pharmaceuticals to bedispensed in accordance with a prescription) may be dispensed from thevibratory bowl 906 through the open funnel gate 702 of the funnel 602into the tube 502.

FIG. 10 illustrates the buffer tube 426 according to an exampleembodiment. The buffer tube 426 may be deployed in the prefill assembly404, connected to an exit from the insert 416 (e.g., via tube 502), ormay otherwise be used. The buffer tube may be adapted to receive,retain, and release a measured quantity of a pharmaceutical, inconnection with dispensing the pharmaceutical into a container 304 tofill a prescription for the pharmaceutical.

An opening 1001 at the top of the buffer tube 426 is adapted to receivethe tube 502 connected to the rear opening 610 (exit or lower opening)of a particular funnel 602 disposed in a particular cell 414. Thus, aparticular buffer tube 426 is associated with a particular cell 414;pharmaceuticals dispensed from the insert 416 of the cell 414 will exitthe cell 414 through the funnel 602, pass into the tube 502, and enterthe buffer tube 426 at the opening 1001.

Measured quantities of pharmaceuticals dispensed from the insert 416 ofthe cell 414 connected to the buffer tube 426 may be staged by thebuffer tube 426 for dispensing into containers 304. In general, measuredquantities of pharmaceuticals represent exact counts of pills or othermasses of pharmaceuticals.

The buffer tube 426 may include a first buffer tube gate 1002, a secondbuffer tube gate 1004, and a third buffer tube gate 1006. In otherembodiments, more than three buffer tube gates may be included in abuffer tube; yet other embodiments of a buffer tube 426 include fewerthan three buffer tube gates. For example, a buffer tube 426 may haveone buffer tube gate. The number of buffer tube gates may vary based onthe use or uses for which the buffer tube 426 is deployed.

A first solenoid 1008, a second solenoid 1010, and a third solenoid1012, respectively, may be adapted to open and close the buffer tubegates 1002, 1004, 1006, respectively, in response to a communicationfrom a first switch 1014, a second switch 1016, and a third switch 1018,respectively. The buffer tube gates 1002, 1004, 1006 may flutter tofacilitate movement of pharmaceuticals through the gates 1002, 1004,1006 and into the holding areas 1030, 1032, 1034 or a container 304, asapplicable. For example, the buffer tube gates 1002, 1004, 1006 mayflutter by opening and closing in quick succession, e.g., once, twice,three times, or more than three times.

The first buffer tube gate 1002, when closed, may retain pharmaceuticalswithin a first holding area 1030; the second buffer tube gate 1004, whenclosed, may retain pharmaceuticals within a second holding area 1032;and the third buffer tube gate 1006, when closed, may retainpharmaceuticals within a third holding area 1034.

The first and second buffer tube gates 1002, 1004, when open, mayrelease pharmaceuticals from the holding areas 1030, 1032, respectively,into the next holding area 1032, 1034, respectively. The third buffertube gate 1006, when open, may release pharmaceuticals from the thirdholding area 1034, through a buffer tube exit 1036, into a container 304on the pallet 302 in the pallet assembly 406. When in use, a buffer tube426 having a plurality of gates may have only one gate open at a time.Alternatively more than one gate may open simultaneously orsubstantially simultaneously, e.g., if there are no measured quantitiesof pharmaceuticals in either of the holding areas 1030, 1032, both thebuffer tube gates 1002, 1004 may be opened such that the pharmaceuticalsdispense directly into holding area 1034, or all buffer tube gates 1002,1004, 1006 may be open such that the measured quantity ofpharmaceuticals dispenses from the cell 414 directly through the buffertube exit 1036 into the container 304.

The buffer tube 426 may be employed to stage dispensing of measuredquantities of pharmaceuticals received from the cell 414 connected tothe buffer tube 426. For example, a first measured quantity ofpharmaceuticals to be dispensed according to a prescription may beretained in the first holding area 1030, a second measured quantity ofpharmaceuticals to be dispensed according to a prescription may beretained in the second holding area 1032, and a third measured quantityof pharmaceuticals to be dispensed according to a prescription may beretained in the third holding area 1034.

In some instances, the first, second, and/or third measured quantitiesof pharmaceuticals may be portions of the entire quantity ofpharmaceuticals to be dispensed in accordance with a particularprescription, such as a prescription for a number of pills or tabletsthat exceeds the quantity of pills or tablets suitable for a container304 used in the system 100.

In other instances, each of the first, second, and/or third measuredquantities may be associated with a different prescription and suchmeasured quantities may be the entire quantity of pharmaceuticalsassociated with such particular prescriptions. For example, the first,second, and/or third measured quantities of pharmaceuticals may eachrepresent a 30 day supply of drugs. These staged drugs may be each bedispensed in separate, individual containers 304 to supply 30 day fills,may be dispensed into a single container 304 to supply a 90 day fill, orotherwise.

The buffer tube 426 and/or one or more of the holding areas 1030, 1032,1034 may hold a volume consistent with the capacity of the container 304used in the system 100. For example, the buffer tube 426 and/or one ormore of the holding areas 1030, 1032, 1034 may hold a volume ofapproximately 200 cc. In other embodiments, the volume may be more than200 cc or less than 200 cc.

FIG. 11 is a close-up illustration of a portion of the second solenoid1010 (at A of FIG. 10) when the buffer tube gate 1004 is in a closedposition. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the second solenoid 1010 includes aspring-actuated plunger 1020. When a spring 1104 is at or near itsfree-length position (e.g., wherein minimal or no compressive load isimposed upon the spring 1104), the spring-actuated plunger 1020 engagesan arm 1106 of the buffer tube gate 1004, thereby retaining the buffertube gate 1004 in a closed position. When activated by the switch 1016,the solenoid 1010 compresses the spring 1022 by the spring-actuatedplunger 1020 of the solenoid moving upward into (or toward) the body ofthe second solenoid 1010 and the second buffer tube gate 1004 will open.For example, spring-biased plungers 1026, 1028 of the solenoids 1008,1012, respectively, are illustrated in the open-gate position in FIG.10.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a top view and a side view, respectively, ofthe pallet assembly 406 of the automated dispensing subsystem 204,according to an example embodiment. A pallet assembly frame 1202provides support in the pallet assembly 406, including the palletconveyor 412 and an x-y movement apparatus 1204. The x-y movementapparatus 1204 moves the pallet 302 within the pallet assembly 406 ofthe automated dispensing subsystem 204. The x-y movement apparatus 1204includes an x-component 1206 and a y-component 1208.

The x-component 1206, in operation, moves a pallet 302 in a directionperpendicular to the pallet conveyor 412. The x-component 1206 includesan x-axis support arm 1210 that supports the pallet 302 as it moveswithin the pallet assembly 406 and an x-component motor 1214 thatactuates the x-component 1206 of the x-y movement apparatus 1204.

The y-component 1208, in operation, moves a pallet 302 in a directionparallel to the pallet conveyor 412. The y-component 1208 includes ay-axis support arm 1212 that supports the pallet 302 as it moves withinthe pallet assembly 406 and a y-component motor 1216 that actuates they-component 1208 of the x-y movement apparatus 1204.

The x-y movement apparatus 1204 may engage and move a pallet 302 withinthe pallet assembly 406 of the automated dispensing subsystem 204 suchthat the containers 304 in the pallet 302 are moved below the buffertubes 426 in communication with the cells 414 containing pharmaceuticalsto be dispensed into such containers 304, via the system 100.

The pallet assembly 406 may include a lift apparatus 1302. The liftapparatus 1302 may engage the pallet 302 and lift it such that acontainer 304 on the pallet 302 is aligned to receive pharmaceuticalsfrom the buffer tube 426 in communication with the cell 414 holdingpharmaceuticals to be dispensed into that particular container 304. Inan example, the container 304 is positioned directly (or substantiallydirectly) below the buffer tube exit 1036 of the buffer tube 426 incommunication with the cell 414 holding pharmaceuticals to be dispensedinto that particular container 304. A container 304 may be positionedsuch that the opening of the container 304 is very close to the buffertube exit 1036, e.g., less than approximately 0.01 inches, 0.009 inches,0.008 inches, 0.007 inches, 0.006 inches, 0.005 inches, or 0.004 inchesfrom the buffer tube exit 1036.

Pharmaceuticals may be dispensed from the buffer tube 426 into thecontainer 304 when the appropriate container 304 is held under thebuffer tube exit 1036 by the lift apparatus 1302 of the pallet assembly406. In an example embodiment, such pharmaceuticals are held in held thethird holding area 1034 of the buffer tube 426 and are dispensed intothe container 304 when the third buffer tube gate 1006 is actuated bythe third switch 1018. In another example embodiment, suchpharmaceuticals are held in the first or second holding area 1030, 1032of the buffer tube 426 when the container 304 is position below thebuffer tube exit 1036 and released through the first and/or secondbuffer tube gates 1002, 1004 prior to being released through the thirdbuffer tube gate 1006 and into the container 304.

The automated dispensing subsystem 204 may include an RFID reader 1218.The RFID reader 1218 may read data on the RFID tag 308 of the pallet 302to obtain data associated with the particular pallet 302 and/orcontainers 304 within the pallet 302, such as order data 110, memberdata 112, claims data 114, drug data 116, prescription data 118, and/orplan sponsor data 120 associated with prescriptions (or portions ofprescriptions) to be filled using containers 304 on that pallet 302. TheRFID reader 1218 may write data to the RFID tag 308 of a pallet 302 (orotherwise cause data to be associated with the pallet 302), such asorder data 110, member data 112, claims data 114, drug data 116,prescription data 118, and/or plan sponsor data 120 associated withpharmaceuticals dispensed into containers 304 on the pallet 302 via theautomated dispensing device 130. Although only one RFID reader 1218 isillustrated on FIG. 12, more than one RFID reader 1218 may be employedin an automated dispensing subsystem 204. When more than one RFID reader1218 is employed in an automated dispensing subsystem 204, each RFIDreader 1218 may be adapted to read the RFID tag 308 on a pallet 302 at adifferent stage. For example, an RFID reader may read the RFID tags 308of pallets as they queue for entry into the automated dispensingsubsystem 204, another may read the RFID tags 308 of pallets as theyenter the automated dispensing subsystem 204, and another may read theRFID tags 308 of pallets 302 as they exit the automated dispensingsubsystem 204.

The RFID reader 1218 and/or another RFID reader may read the containeridentifiers of the containers on the pallet, the automated dispensingsubsystem identifier, and the container properties of the containers onthe pallet from the RFID tag 308 of a pallet 302 when it queues forentry into the automated dispensing subsystem 204 and may write thecontainer identifiers of the containers 304 to be filled at theautomated dispensing subsystem 204 and the identifiers of the particularcells from which the containers will be filled to the RFID tag 308 ofthe pallet 302. The RFID reader 1218 and/or another RFID reader may readthe container identifiers of the containers 304 to be filled at theautomated dispensing subsystem 204 and the identifiers of the particularcells from which the containers 304 will be filled from the RFID tag 308of the pallet 302 when it enters the automated dispensing subsystem 204.The RFID reader 1218 and/or another RFID reader may read the palletroute within the system 100 and the pallet route within the automateddispensing subsystem 204 as it exits the automated dispensing subsystem204 and may clear the pallet route within the automated dispensingsubsystem 204 as it exits the automated dispensing subsystem 204 (e.g.,to prevent the pallet 302 from re-entering the same automated dispensingsubsystem 204 in an embodiment of the system 100 that employs more thanone automated dispensing subsystem 204).

FIG. 14 illustrates an example control subsystem 202 that may bedeployed in the order processing device 102, the automated dispensingdevice 130, or otherwise deployed in the system 100. One or more modulesare communicatively coupled and included in the control subsystem 202 toenable control of the automated dispensing operations of the automateddispensing device 130. The modules of the control subsystem 202 that maybe included are a filling cabinet module 1402, a dispensing module 1404,and a sequencing module 1406. Other modules may also be included.

In some embodiments, the modules of the control subsystem 202 may bedistributed so that some of the modules are deployed in the orderprocessing device 102 and some modules are deployed in the automateddispensing device 130. In one embodiment, the modules are deployed inmemory and executed by a processor coupled to the memory. Thefunctionality contained within the modules 1402-1406 may be combinedinto a lesser number of modules, further divided among a greater numberof modules, or redistributed among existing modules. Otherconfigurations including the functionality of the modules 1402-1406 maybe used.

The filling cabinet module 1402 may track quantities of pharmaceuticalsplaced into the insert 416 in the cell 414 and dispensed from the insert416. The filling cabinet module 1402 may control operations of thefilling cabinet 402. For example, the filling cabinet module 1402 maygenerate an alert when the quantity of pharmaceuticals in the insert 416has dropped below a pre-determined level. The level at which an alert isbe generated may be dependent upon parameters specific to the particularpharmaceutical, e.g., based on factors such as the size of thepharmaceutical, the typical prescribed quantity of the pharmaceutical,the relative popularity of the pharmaceutical, or other factors. Forexample, an alert may be generated if the quantity of pharmaceutical isbelow about 100 units (e.g., pills, capsules or tablets), below about150 units, below about 200 units, below about 250 units, below about 300units, or below about 350 units. Other types of thresholds may be used.Regardless of whether an alert has been generated, pharmaceuticals maycontinue to be dispensed from the insert 416 until it is empty. Alertsgenerated by the filling cabinet module 1402 may be prioritized. Forexample, alerts may be prioritized based on criterion such as generalpopularity of the pharmaceutical held in the cell 414, pending orders inthe system 100 for such pharmaceutical, quantity of pharmaceuticalsremaining in the cell 414, combinations thereof, or may be otherwiseprioritized. The filling cabinet module 1402 may identify a particularcell 414 as being unavailable to the automated dispensing subsystem 204when the insert 416 is pulled out or removed from the cell 414 of thefilling cabinet 402.

The dispensing module 1404 may access data, such as the order data 110,the member data 112, the claims data 114, the drug data 116, theprescription data 118, and/or the plan sponsor data 120, associated witha particular pallet 302. Data may be accessed from the RFID tag 308 ofthe pallet 302, the sequencing module 1406, or the database 108, forexample. Based on such data, the dispensing module 1404 may identify thequantity of pharmaceuticals within a particular cell 414 to be dispensedinto a particular container 304 on a particular pallet 302 and maycontrol the operations of the inserts 416 and/or the buffer tubes 426and/or may otherwise control the operations of the automated dispensingsubsystem 204 to cause pharmaceuticals to be dispensed from a cell 414and, ultimately, into the container 304 on the pallet 302. Thedispensing module 1404 may receive the container identifiers of thecontainers 304 to be filled at the automated dispensing subsystem 204and may return the identifiers of the cells 414 from which thecontainers 304 will be filled, the identifier of the automateddispensing subsystem 204, the dispense type, and the dispense quantity.

For example, the dispensing module 1404 may cause the hopper 904 of theinsert 416 disposed within the cell 414 to rotate, it may cause thevibratory bowl 906 of the insert 416 to vibrate, it may countpharmaceuticals as they exit the vibratory bowl 906 into the funnel 602,it may cause the vibratory bowl 906 to cease vibrating after aparticular quantity of pharmaceuticals has been counted by the counter,and/or it may otherwise initiate one or more than one operations of thefilling cabinet 402 to cause a particular quantity of pharmaceuticals tobe dispensed from the insert 416 into the buffer tube 426 associatedwith that particular cell 414.

The dispensing module 1404 may control operations of the buffer tubes426 of the prefill assembly 404. The dispensing module 1404 may controlthe operations of one or more than one of the switches 1014, 1016, 1018to cause a quantity of pharmaceuticals dispensed from the insert 416 ofthe cell 214 to be retained within a particular holding area 1030, 1032,1034 or released from a particular holding area into the next holdingarea or into the container 304, as the case may be. For example, thedispensing module 1404 may engage the third switch 1018 to cause thethird buffer tube gate 1006 to open, thereby releasing the contents ofthe third holding area 1034 into the container 304 disposed below theopening 1036 of the buffer tube 426. The dispensing module 1404 may thenengage the second switch 1016 to cause the second buffer tube gate 1004to open, thereby releasing the contents of the second holding area 1032into the third holding area 1034.

Thus, in this example, embodiment, up to three prescriptions (orportions of prescriptions) may be retained within the holding areas1030, 1032, 1034 of the buffer tube 426 in preparation for dispensinginto the container 304, thereby reducing the amount of time necessary tofill the container 304 with the measured quantity of pharmaceuticalsafter it has been placed below the opening 1036 of the buffer tube 426(for example, as compared to a subsystem in which pharmaceuticals arenot counted until the container 304 had been positioned to receive thepharmaceuticals). In an example embodiment, the three prescriptions inthe holding areas 1030, 1032, 1034, may hold differing quantities ofpharmaceuticals.

The sequencing module 1406 may accesses data, such as the order data110, the member data 112, the claims data 114, the drug data 116, theprescription data 118, and/or the plan sponsor data 120, associated witha particular pallet 302. Data may be accessed from the RFID tag 308 of apallet 302 or the database 108, for example. Data associated with aparticular pallet may be accessed by an RFID reader 1218 of theautomated dispensing subsystem 204 or may be otherwise accessed. Basedon such data, the sequencing module 1406 may determine which cells 414within the automated dispensing subsystem 204 to dispense associatedpharmaceuticals into the containers 304 on the particular pallet 302.The sequencing module 1406 may determine the sequence in which theparticular pallet 302 will move between dispensing positions associatedwith such cells 414 (e.g., underneath the openings 1036 of the buffertubes 426). The sequence may be selected based on factors such asproximity of the cells 414 and/or the buffer tubes 426 from whichcontainers 304 on the pallet 302 will be filled, availability or likelyavailability of a particular cell 414 (for example, as determined basedon whether an alert has been generated for the particular cell 414 bythe filling cabinet module 1402, or otherwise generated, and/or thelevel of such alert), and/or other factors.

The sequence may be selected to minimize wait time at the cell 414. Forexample, the sequence may be selected (and the operations of theautomated processing subsystem 204 may be controlled) such that thecontainer 304 to be filled with a pharmaceutical from the cell 414arrives at the dispensing position associated with such cell 414 afterthe pharmaceutical to be dispensed into the container 304 is in aparticular holding area of the buffer tube 426 in communication with thecell 414, such as at least the third holding area 1034, at least thesecond holding area 1032, or at least the first holding area 1032. Byway of further example, if the pallet 302 includes more than onecontainer 304 to be filled with a particular pharmaceutical, thesequencing module 1406 may order the filling of the containers on thepallet 302 such that a first container is filled with pharmaceuticalsdispensed from the buffer tube 426 in communication with the cell 414containing the pharmaceutical at a first time and a second container isfilled with pharmaceuticals dispensed from such buffer tube 426 at asecond time, and wherein at least one other container is filled from thebuffer tube 426 in communication with a different cell 414 between thefilling of the first container 304 and the second container 304.

If the automated dispensing subsystem 204 includes more than one cell414 with a particular pharmaceutical, then in such an embodiment, thesequencing module 1406 may determine which of such cells 414 will beused to dispense such pharmaceutical. For example, the sequencing module1406 may identify a first cell 414 from which a first container 304 willbe filled with that particular pharmaceutical and a second cell 414 fromwhich a second container 304 will be filled with that particularpharmaceutical. Other factors may be used to establish the sequence inwhich the containers 304 in a particular pallet 302 will be filled.

Multiple automated filling subsystem 204 may be deployed in theautomated filling device 130 of the system 100. In such an embodiment,one or more of the modules 1402-1406 of the control subsystem 202 and/orthe order processing device 102 may determine which one or moreautomated filling subsystem 204 will be used to fill the containers 304on a particular pallet 302 and may control the operations of the one ormore automated filling subsystems 204 and/or the system 100 to causepharmaceuticals to be dispensed into the containers 304 on such pallet302 from cells 414 of such one or more than one automated fillingsubsystems 204.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method 1500 for dispensing pharmaceuticals intothe container 304, according to an example embodiment. The method 1500may be performed by the automated dispensing device 130, partially bythe order processing device 102 and partially by the automateddispensing device 130, or may be otherwise performed.

At block 1502, the insert 416 of the cell 414 is filled with aparticular pharmaceutical. At block 1504, a first measured quantity ofthe pharmaceutical is dispensed from the cell 414 into the buffer tube426 connected to the cell 414 via the tube 502. At block 1506, the firstmeasured quantity of pharmaceuticals is held within the first holdingarea 1030 of the buffer tube. At block 1508, the first measured quantityof the pharmaceutical is released by the first buffer tube gate 1002into the second holding area 1032 of the buffer tube 426. A secondmeasured quantity of the pharmaceutical is dispensed from the cell 414into the buffer tube 426 at block 1510 and, at block 1512, is heldwithin the first holding area 1030. The first measured quantity of thepharmaceutical is released by the second buffer tube gate 1004 into thethird holding area 1034 of the buffer tube 426 at block 1514, the secondmeasured quantity of the pharmaceutical is released by the first buffertube gate 1002 into the second holding area 1032 of the buffer tube 426at block 1516, and a third measured quantity of the pharmaceutical isdispensed from the cell 414 into the buffer tube 426 at block 1518. Atblock 1520, the third measured quantity of pharmaceuticals is heldwithin the first holding area 1030. At block 1522, the first measuredquantity of pharmaceuticals is released by the third buffer tube gate1006 from the third holding area 1034 into the container 304 aligned toreceive the first measured quantity of pharmaceuticals from the buffertube 426.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a machine in the example form of acomputer system 1600 within which a set of instructions may be executedcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods,processes, operations, or methodologies discussed herein. The devices102, 106, 122-144 may include the functionality of the one or morecomputer systems 1600.

In an example embodiment, the machine operates as a standalone device ormay be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in server-client network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Themachine may be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer(PC), a tablet PC, a gaming device, a set-top box (STB), a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, anetwork router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing aset of instructions sequential or otherwise) that specifies actions tobe taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system 1600 includes a processor 1602 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU) a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both),a main memory 1604 and a static memory 1606, which communicate with eachother via a bus 1608. The computer system 1600 further includes a videodisplay unit 1610 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode raytube (CRT)). The computer system 1600 also includes an alphanumericinput device 1612 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 1614(e.g., a mouse), a drive unit 1616, a signal generation device 1618(e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 1620.

The drive unit 1616 includes a computer-readable medium 1622 on which isstored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 1624) embodyingany one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. Thesoftware 1624 may also reside, completely or at least partially, withinthe main memory 1604 and/or within the processor 1602 during executionthereof by the computer system 1600, the main memory 1604 and theprocessor 1602 also constituting computer-readable media.

The software 1624 may further be transmitted or received over a network1626 via the network interface device 1620.

While the computer-readable medium 1622 is shown in an exampleembodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any mediumthat is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions forexecution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any oneor more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term“computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, butnot be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical media, and magneticmedia. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium is anon-transitory computer-readable medium.

The term “based on” or using, as used herein, reflects an open-endedterm that can reflect others elements beyond those explicitly recited.

Certain systems, apparatus, applications or processes are describedherein as including a number of modules. A module may be a unit ofdistinct functionality that may be presented in software, hardware, orcombinations thereof. When the functionality of a module is performed inany part through software, the module includes a computer-readablemedium. The modules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled.

In an example embodiment, a pharmaceutical order filling system includesan order processing device that receives a pharmaceutical order, anautomated dispensing device that includes a filling cabinet with a cellcontaining an available quantity of a pharmaceutical to be dispensedaccording to the pharmaceutical order. The system also includes aprefill assembly with a buffer tube that is in communication with thecell of the filling cabinet and that is configured to stage dispensingof measured quantities of pharmaceuticals, wherein the automateddispensing device is communicatively coupled to the order processingdevice and configured to dispense a first measured quantity of theavailable quantity of the pharmaceutical into the buffer tube and todispense the first measured quantity of the pharmaceutical from thebuffer tube into a container.

In another example embodiment, a pharmaceutical order filling systemincludes an automated dispensing device in which a filling cabinet, aprefill assembly and a pallet assembly cooperatively communicate. Thefilling cabinet includes a plurality of cells, each of which contains aquantity of a particular pharmaceutical, the prefill assembly includes aplurality of buffer tubes, each buffer tube of the plurality of buffertubes being in respective communication with a particular cell of theplurality of cells, and the pallet assembly includes an x-y movementapparatus adapted to engage and move a pallet within the palletassembly, wherein a plurality of containers are disposed on the pallet.In this example embodiment, the automated dispensing device isconfigured to dispense a measured quantity of a pharmaceutical from oneof the cells into a holding area of a buffer tube uniquely associatedwith that cell and to dispense the measured quantity of thepharmaceutical from the holding area of the buffer tube into a containerpositioned below the buffer tube.

In yet another example embodiment, a pharmaceutical order filling systemincludes an order processing device to receive pharmaceutical ordersprescribing a plurality of pharmaceuticals, an automated dispensingdevice that is cooperatively coupled to the order processing device. Theautomated dispensing device includes a filling cabinet, a prefillassembly, and a pallet assembly. The filling cabinet includes aplurality of cells, one of which contains a quantity of one of thepharmaceuticals. The system also includes a sequencing module todetermine an order for dispensing a measured quantity of each of theplurality of pharmaceuticals into a plurality of containers.

The inventive subject matter may be represented in a variety ofdifferent embodiments of which there are many possible permutations.

Thus, methods and systems for automated pharmaceutical dispensing havebeen described. Although embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed with reference to specific example embodiments, it will beevident that various modifications and changes may be made to theseembodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of theembodiments of the invention, Accordingly, the specification anddrawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictivesense.

The methods described herein do not have to be executed in the orderdescribed, or in any particular order. Moreover, various activitiesdescribed with respect to the methods identified herein can be executedin serial or parallel fashion.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising: aplurality of cells, a cell of the plurality of cells is adapted tocontain a quantity of a pharmaceutical and including a funnel gate tocontrol exiting of the pharmaceutical from the cell through the funnelgate, a plurality of dispensing tubes each adapted to receive thepharmaceutical from the funnel gate; a plurality of buffer tubes, abuffer tube of the plurality of buffer tubes having a holding area andconfigured to receive the pharmaceutical from the plurality ofdispensing tubes, the holding area being adapted to hold an order of aplurality of the pharmaceutical for dispensing; and a movement apparatusadapted to move a pallet that is configured to hold a plurality ofpharmaceutical containers and each pharmaceutical container beingassociated with an order of the pharmaceutical, wherein the buffer tubedispenses the order of the pharmaceutical to one of the plurality ofpharmaceutical containers with the movement apparatus positioning theone of the plurality of pharmaceutical containers beneath the buffertube.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of buffer tubes isconfigured to dispense a first measured quantity of a firstpharmaceutical from a first cell into a first holding area of a firstbuffer tube and to dispense the first measured quantity of the firstpharmaceutical from the first holding area of the first buffer tube intoa first container with the first container being positioned below thefirst buffer tube.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality ofbuffer tubes is configured to dispense a second measured quantity of asecond pharmaceutical, different from the first pharmaceutical, from asecond cell into a second holding area of a second buffer tube and todispense the second measured quantity of the second pharmaceutical fromthe second holding area of the second buffer tube into a secondcontainer with the second container being positioned below the secondbuffer tube.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first buffer tubecomprises a first buffer tube gate configured to release the firstmeasured quantity of the first pharmaceutical, wherein the first buffertube gate is configured to flutter by opening and closing in quicksuccession.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second buffer tubecomprises a second buffer tube gate configured to release the secondmeasured quantity of the second pharmaceutical, wherein the secondbuffer tube gate is configured to flutter by opening and closing inquick succession.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the movementapparatus moves the plurality of pharmaceutical containers laterally andlongitudinally to align the first container with the first buffer tubegate and to align the second container with the second buffer tube gate.7. The system of claim 6, wherein the movement apparatus moves the firstcontainer vertically toward the first buffer tube gate prior to thefirst buffer gate opening to dispense the first pharmaceutical into thefirst container.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcells is adapted to receive an insert, respectively, wherein the insertcomprises a hopper, a vibratory bowl, and a level sensor, wherein thelevel sensor is configured to cause the hopper to spin and to release areleased quantity of the pharmaceutical into the vibratory bowl, andwherein the released quantity of the pharmaceutical comprises at least aportion of the order.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising: anorder processing device to receive a pharmaceutical order and track thepharmaceutical order through to the pharmaceutical container, whereinthe order processing device is configured to receive a fill request forpharmaceutical for a patient; to determine whether a number of a priorfill of the pharmaceutical is at least equal to the number of allowedretail fills of the pharmaceutical; to implement a selectionintervention if the prior fills of the pharmaceutical is at least equalto the number of allowed retail fills of the pharmaceutical; and togenerate a responsive communication if the prior fills of thepharmaceutical is less than the number of allowed retail fills of thepharmaceutical.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an orderprocessing device to receive a pharmaceutical order and track thepharmaceutical order through to the pharmaceutical container, whereinthe order processing device determines whether a member selection of aretail pharmacy or a mail order pharmacy for prescription drug refillshas been received, the member selection being associated with a memberof a benefit plan; receives a claim associated with a prescription drug;determine that the claim is for a refill of the prescription drug;determine a pharmacy type of a pharmacy associated with the claim; andadjudicate the claim associated with the prescription drug based onwhether the member selection of the retail pharmacy or the mail orderpharmacy for prescription drug refills has been received.
 11. The systemof claim 1, wherein the holding area of the buffer tube comprises afirst holding area and a second holding area, wherein the first holdingarea is adapted to receive, retain, and release a first measuredquantity of the pharmaceutical; and wherein the buffer tube isconfigured to release the first measured quantity of the pharmaceuticalfrom the first holding area into the second holding area and to dispensea second measured quantity of the pharmaceutical into the first holdingarea after the first measured quantity of the pharmaceutical has beenreleased into the second holding area.
 12. The system of claim 11,further comprising a sequencing module to determine an order fordispensing each of the first measured quantity and second measuredquantity of the pharmaceutical into containers, respectively.
 13. Anautomated dispensing device for a pharmaceutical order filling systemcomprising: an order processing device to receive a pharmaceuticalorder; and a dispensing assembly operably connected to the orderprocessing device, wherein the dispensing assembly includes an inserthaving a hopper to store pharmaceuticals, a funnel operably connected tothe hopper and a dispensing tube operably connected to the funnel, theinsert adapted to receive an available quantity of the pharmaceutical inthe hopper, the funnel adapted to dispense a measured number of thepharmaceutical through the dispensing tube associated with thepharmaceutical order, wherein the order processing device instructs thedispensing assembly to provide the measured number of the pharmaceuticalorder to the insert, and wherein the order processing device tracks thepharmaceutical order.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the dispensingassembly further includes a plurality of buffer tubes, each buffer tubeof the plurality of buffer tubes having a holding area and configured toreceive the measured quantity of the pharmaceutical from the pluralityof dispensing tubes, the holding area being adapted to hold the measuredquantity of the pharmaceutical plurality of the pharmaceutical fordispensing.
 15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a movementapparatus adapted to move a pallet that is configured to hold aplurality of pharmaceutical containers and each pharmaceutical containerbeing associated with an order of the pharmaceutical, wherein the buffertube dispenses the order of the pharmaceutical to one of the pluralityof pharmaceutical containers with the movement apparatus positioning theone of the plurality of pharmaceutical containers beneath the buffertube.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the order processing deviceincludes a sequencing module to determine an order for dispensing themeasured quantity of each of the pharmaceutical into a plurality ofcontainers.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the order processingdevice is configured to: determine whether a member selection of aretail pharmacy or a mail order pharmacy for pharmaceutical refills hasbeen received, the member selection being associated with a member of abenefit plan; receive a claim associated with the pharmaceutical order;determine that the claim is for a refill of the pharmaceutical;determine a pharmacy type of a pharmacy associated with the claim; andadjudicate the claim associated with the prescription drug based onwhether the member selection of the retail pharmacy or the mail orderpharmacy for pharmaceutical has been received.
 18. The system of claim13, the order processing device is configured to identify a renewal dateassociated with a prescription drug plan; and determine that the renewaldate meets a renewal criterion, and generate a member message based on adetermination that the renewal date meets the renewal criterion.
 19. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the dispensing assembly is configured todispense a frequently prescribed pharmaceutical.
 20. The system of claim13, wherein the funnel is a long-draw funnel with a length of over sixinches and has a first diameter greater than a second diameter of thepharmaceutical.